My Joan of Arcadia moment
I just had a bizarre experience.
I walked late into my Molecules of Life class today, as usual, and took a place in the third row because I forgot to wear my glasses to class. I really enjoy the class - the lectures are always interesting and clear - but I usually check my iPhone and type some short emails, especially to prepare for the (dis)advantages of an elite education event today, which I’m running with Lois (my other half for the last two weeks).
But today, I had sat in the front, across the row and in front of Jon Clardy, the other professor who co-teaches the class, and an older white man with a beard compared to David Liu as the strapping younger Asian professor who was giving the lecture on evolution. Conscious of Professor Clardy’s presence behind me, I resisted checking my iPhone. Oh, respect for authority.
At the end of class, I got up to leave. “You’re Elsa,” I heard someone say behind me - I turned around, and it was Professor Clardy, pointing a finger at me. “Yes,” I replied. Then he walked away.
What was that?? A Joan of Arcadia moment? I felt recognized. Was he God, recognizing me? Was he E.T.? Should I phone home? When does a professor ever come up to me after lecture and say my name and point his finger just for no apparent reason?
